Urban Infrastructure Projects Research Articles

Urban biodiversity and design in time of (post)pandemics: research perspectives from URBIO international network

AbstractReflecting on the insights from research development within Urban Biodiversity and Design Network (URBIO), this paper attempts to link the consequences of current global changes (ongoing urbanization, biodiversity loss, land-use changes, globalization, etc.) to the emergence and outbreaks of the COVID-19 pandemic. It analyses the main outcomes of the URBIO webinar (December 2021) and the URBIO conference (November 2022) and the results of the questionnaire survey among the URBIO experts on the impact of COVID-19 on the biodiversity, design and society in their local contexts as well as on the ongoing and future URBIO research directions. The survey also enabled to explore and assess a wide diversity of human-nature interactions as well as the novel actions and adaptation strategies established to have positive outcomes for both humans and nature. The results revealed the following aspects associated with the COVID-19 pandemic: silence, social distancing, isolation, conflict ideologies, and declined recreational and other human activities. Experts noticed the increase of urban green space visitation and interest in nature. The majority of the experts confirmed the impact (both positive and negative) of the COVID-19 on biodiversity and environment. General positive aspects refer to the value/significance of nature and biodiversity/wildlife and especially the contact with nature (“time outdoor”, “time spent with family”, “inspiration from nature” and “enjoying nature”). The positive consequence of the COVID-19 measures was also the improvement of wildlife habitats and the increase of spontaneous flora as well as fauna species. Experts confirmed the lower/decreased level of pollution, noise, traffic, light, anthropogenic pressure/impact, number of tourists, vehicles as well as less garbage. The analysis of leading research themes among the URBIO conference participants confirmed that the biggest number of presenters and participants were on the topic of biodiversity integration in urban planning, green infrastructure, and landscape design projects. Another popular theme was ecological restoration and urban wildlife and plant biodiversity. One particular research direction that emerged recently and clearly pronounced at URBIO 2022 was urban biodiversity in times of climate change and post-pandemics.

Mosses for minimalist green roofs: A preliminary study of the effects of rooftop exposure, species selection, and lab-grown vs. wild-harvested propagule sources

Mosses are rarely explicitly included in urban green infrastructure projects in much of North America. Nevertheless, their opportunistic colonization of impervious surfaces in the absence of intervention, combined with successful tests of their suitability in other parts of the world, suggests that they may be suited to expanded use in applications such as green roofs, and beneficial to urban ecosystem services. Such inclusion requires more detailed knowledge of both general methods for incorporating mosses into green infrastructure, and species-specific knowledge on propagation methods and maximizing growth. In this report, we present a 3-year green roof trial with five types of moss replicated across both wild and lab grown inocula, on both sheltered and exposed asphalt roof surfaces in Atlantic Canada. The exposed roof surface was not conducive to bryophyte survival; repeated wind damage, combined with rapid onset of chlorosis from drought stress, resulted in a complete mortality of all species in that condition. In the sheltered habitat, all species were still present by the third year, but with much lower cover than was present post-installation. In general, wild-harvested shoots survived better than lab-cultivated ones, and those mosses transplanted from shady habitats fared better than those from sunny habitats. We conclude that surface attachment and degree of exposure are the most important factors for establishing moss growth on asphalt roofs, whereas selecting among species may be important only in the context of maximizing long-term growth under highly localized conditions, such as high litter deposition or partial vs. full shade from overhead trees.

IDENTIFICATION, ASSESSMENT, AND PROPOSAL OF MECHANICAL RISK CONTROLS IN URBAN ROAD REPAVING INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS

This study aims to establish a comprehensive management of mechanical risks that may arise during the construction of infrastructure projects, specifically focusing on the process involved in urban road repaving. The case study selected is the "Repaving of General Rumiñahui Avenue between San Luis Avenue and Santa Clara Street, Quito, Ecuador". The objective is to mitigate various types of work-related accidents resulting from civil construction interventions. Mechanical risks are a significant concern in the construction industry, particularly in activities involving heavy machinery and specialized equipment. Like many other countries, Ecuador has construction-related labor regulations in place. Therefore, the main goal of this study is to identify, assess, and propose a system for controlling mechanical risks in the construction of repaving infrastructure projects to improve working conditions. The assessments of mechanical risks in urban repaving infrastructure projects will be analyzed using the "Colombian Technical Guide GTC 45" methodology. This quantitative and analytical approach applies current regulatory methods to define risk levels. The study will conclude by determining appropriate measures for labor control and the respective management of machinery and tools. These measures encompass preventive actions such as the use of personal protective equipment, appropriate signage, engineering controls, and worker training. Keywords: risk level, hazards, work accidents, sewerage, drinking water

Adsorption of particulate matter and uptake of metal and non-metal elements from PM in leaves of Pinus densiflora and Quercus acutissima: a comparative study

Trees can serve as effective biofilters of Particulate matter (PM) pollution, making them valuable for managing air pollution and promoting public health. Leaves of trees can reduce PM through absorption, adsorption, and fallout mechanisms, which are influenced by species-specific characteristics and environmental factors. Although several studies have explored the impact of various leaf characteristics on their ability to adsorb PM from field conditions, few have been conducted in controlled chambers to analyze the adsorption of PM on leaf surfaces and the uptake of metal and non-metal elements from PM on leaves. To fill these knowledge gaps, this study investigated the PM adsorption and leaf characteristics of two different tree species, Pinus densiflora (an evergreen coniferous species) and Quercus acutissima (a deciduous broad-leaved species) under controlled conditions in a PM exposure chamber with a target concentration of 300 μg m−3. The main aim of this study was to measure and compare the rate of PM component (metal and non-metal elements) uptake in two species and investigate the leaf characteristics that contribute to PM adsorption. We investigated the relationship between PM adsorption and physiolog, micro-morphology, and chemical properties of the leaf surface in two species. This study used a Pearson’s correlation analysis and a principal component analysis (PCA) to evaluate correlation between PM adsorption and leaf characteristics and uptake of metal/non-metal elements in PM on leaves. This result showed that leaf characteristics such as stomatal size, leaf roughness, and wax content played a crucial role in PM10 adsorption, while physiological factors like transpiration and leaf boundary layer conductance were identified as important determinants of PM2.5 adsorption on plant leaves. It also observed significant variations in the uptake of aluminum, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, and sulfur. This study not only advances our understanding of the mechanisms behind PM adsorption by tree leaves but also underscores the importance of selecting appropriate tree species based on their leaf characteristics for urban forestry and green infrastructure projects. The ability to strategically use tree species for PM pollution mitigation highlights a practical approach to enhancing environmental sustainability and public health.

Research on 3D Visualization of Real Scene in Subway Engineering Based on 3D Model

As an urban infrastructure project, subway engineering exhibits the characteristics of large scale, trans-regional presence, and complex environmental conditions. The three-dimensional (3D) real scene of subway engineering aims to visually present the project features by creating a virtual environment in the 3D form by integrating numerous geographical scenes and entities. However, existing methods of geometric data integration and model visualization are insufficient for handling the diverse and heterogeneous data types encountered in this process. To address these challenges, this study proposes a framework for real-scene 3D visualization management in subway engineering, establishing a technical process of multi-source data integration for organizing 3D models within the scene, and developing a visualization display strategy that incorporates octree and level of detail principles for multi-scale hierarchical dynamic loading of 3D Scene. To validate the proposed method, a prototype system is developed with Geographic Information System (GIS) and Building Information Modeling (BIM) technology and applied to an actual subway project. The results demonstrate that this method ensures effective integration and management of data, enabling the display of real scenes in an integrated 3D model in a web environment.

Urban Transformations in Piraeus. Towards a Global City?

The paper explores the urban, social and economic geography of the city of Piraeus and its metropolitan urban area during the recent years. The city is characterized by urban shrinkage, deindustrialization and declining urban conditions. Meanwhile, the port economy is increasing and urban infrastructure and significant real-estate projects lay on the city. The current situation seems to be out of the control of the city. The acceleration of the growth of the port is not reflected in the surrounding neighborhoods. The risk of a new type of spatial polarization at the urban level is visible.

Sustainable Operations: A Systematic Operational Performance Evaluation Framework for Public–Private Partnership Transportation Infrastructure Projects

With the application of public–private partnership (PPP) model in urban transportation infrastructure projects, various participants have put forward multi-dimensional demands to the operation and maintenance of infrastructures. This study aims to establish a systematic operational performance evaluation framework for PPP transportation infrastructure projects. Based on a literature review, the balanced scorecard was improved, and a conceptual model of multidimensional performance assessment was constructed. The structure of the qualitative performance assessment system was quantified and analyzed by combining structural equation modeling with questionnaires to obtain causal relationships among the indicators. Subsequently, a system dynamics model was constructed to assess the performance dynamically, and a validation analysis was conducted. It finds that maintaining a low level of operational quality over an extended period can significantly reduce stakeholder satisfaction, consequently exacerbating the decline in project performance. In contrast, an improvement in the level of informatization is found to positively contribute to enhancing operational quality and facilitating the long-term sustainability of project operations. It innovatively integrates four dimensions of financial, multi-stakeholder satisfaction, operation and maintenance quality, and sustainability performance to enrich the theoretical system of PPP transportation infrastructure performance assessment. At the same time, it analyzes the influence mechanism among the indicators and its long-term dynamic performance, which provides an effective decision-making tool for operational performance management.

Analysis of urban slum infrastructure projects financing in Ghana: A closer look at traditional and innovative financing mechanisms

Rapid urbanisation in developing countries has engendered unregulated slum development to provide residences for economic migrants who travel to cities to pursue hopes of a secure future. The development of new financial approaches could play a critical role in unravelling the issues associated with slum development, particularly in emerging economies such as Ghana. Hence, this study investigates slum emergence in Ghana and assesses traditional and innovative financing mechanisms to drive the country’s re-development. Specifically, the study assessed critical indicators of city-urban slums, established critical city-urban slums infrastructure requirements, and examined the traditional and innovative tools of financing city-urban slums to develop more socially equitable and inclusive infrastructure. This research adopted a quantitative research strategy couched within a positivist paradigm and deductive reasoning. Surveys were used to solicit responses from selected stakeholders using purposive sampling. Data was analysed using mean score ranking, one sample t-test and relative importance index (RII). Emergent findings revealed that ‘housing quality’ was the most critical measure of city-urban slum conditions, followed by ‘access to improved sanitation’. Additionally, the findings also asserted ‘virtuous sanitation’ was the most important infrastructure requirement, followed by ‘appropriate disposal of waste facilities’. Cumulatively, the findings suggest that the most prevalent and effective traditional financing tool was to incorporate a slums infrastructure development fund and use taxes and empower urban local bodies (ULB) with increased municipal budgets. Finally, in relation to innovative forms for financing, public–private partnership (PPP) was found to be most effective, followed by municipal bond. In conclusion, the study recommends the participation of industry professionals and governing agencies in the pursuance of these financing options to drive the re-development of slums to meet the UN’s sustainable development goals (SDGs) of ensuring sustainable cities by 2030.

The Nature Smart Cities business model: A rapid decision-support and scenario analysis tool to reveal the multi-benefits of green infrastructure investments

Incorporating natural spaces within urban areas has been shown to have multiple benefits. However, despite greening and adaptation strategies at different levels of government, progress remains slow with a lack of easy to use and comprehensive tools identified as key to overcoming this. This paper presents a co-designed tool with academic and local authority partners to demonstrate the ecosystem service benefits of small-scale urban green infrastructure projects. Through the tool, users can readily assess the impact of green infrastructure investments on the delivery of a selection of ecosystem services in the early stages of a project. Furthermore, the tool provides a standardised assessment of cultural ecosystem services’ contributions, as well as offering a method to score spatial designs on the impact on habitat for biodiversity. Use of the tool is demonstrated using a pilot study in Kapelle, the Netherlands. The results set out an overview of the impacts of the spatial design on estimated ecosystem service delivery. They also show the tool’s potential to add value in early project stages and as a planning and design tool, helping to maximise the benefits that can be achieved through green infrastructure design. Complementing these arguments with ball-park estimations on green infrastructure costs, the Nature Smart Cities Business Model aims to offer public sector officers the means to create a business case for green infrastructure measures, facilitating the translation from strategies to actual plans, thus benefitting green infrastructure implementation in the public realm.

Circular Economy 4.0 Evaluation Model for Urban Road Infrastructure Projects, CIROAD

This paper provides a multicriteria evaluation model, based on the AHP methodology for the evaluation of the Circular Economy 4.0’s, which develops the metric called “Circularity indicator for urban road projects (CIROAD)”. The main contribution of this work is to provide a measurement scale specifically designed for urban road infrastructure projects. It is a useful tool to assess the degree of implementation of the principles of the Circular Economy (CE) and the Fourth Industrial Revolution (I4.0) in an integrated manner in these types of projects, generating valuable information for all stakeholders and contributing to the objective of accelerating the transition towards a Circular Economy 4.0 model in the construction industry. The model is defined with twenty-five sub-criteria and seven general criteria, which are: (1) Circular Materials; (2) Circular Design Approaches; (3) Circular Construction Approaches; (4) Circular Operation Approaches; (5) Approaches to Deconstruction and Resource Recovery; (6) Social Value Creation; and (7) Economic Performance. The developed CIROAD model was applied to three projects in the urban transport area of the Chilean Ministry of Housing and Urbanism (MINVU/SERVIU) in the Santiago Metropolitan Region (RM). In these three projects, low performance was observed in terms of CIROAD scores (between 21% and 28% of a maximum of 100%); that is, there is a significant opportunity for improvement by incorporating more circular practices in the development of projects by the studied organization. To accelerate the transition to a circular economy model in the development of its projects, it is proposed that the organization prioritize improving the following circular practices (in order of importance): (1) the design of pavements with environmental criteria; (2) preserving value; (3) conducting cost–benefit analysis (CBA) of waste management; (4) environmental declaration of materials (EPD); (5) the used of recycled materials; and (6) BIM-based design. Finally, the suggestion for the organization in charge of these projects is to use the developed CIROAD model as a tool to support decision making regarding the prioritization of its project portfolio. That is, the organization should use CIROAD to generate a ranking score for each project and allocate resources for investment in the initiatives that show the best circularity performances, as estimated by CIROAD.

Ability or morality? Exploring the multiple dimensions of social trust on public acceptance of urban transport infrastructure projects

PurposeThe public's trust in the authorities has a great impact on people's perception and cognition on development of different types of urban transport infrastructure projects (UTIPs). Given the importance of public acceptance for the efficient construction and operation of UTIPs, this study aims at investigating the personal and environmental factors that influence public acceptance behavior from the perspective of stakeholder management.Design/methodology/approachBased on social cognitive theory (SCT), this study explores the multiple dimensions of social trust on public acceptance in the development of UTIPs by a comparative case study. Two types of UTIPs, a metro railway and a bridge in the Wuhan City, China, were selected as cases, with a questionnaire distributed among the public to collect their sense of trust towards the development of these projects. The data were analyzed through structural equation modeling (SEM).FindingsThis study reveals that social trust positively influences public acceptance, directly or indirectly through perceived benefit and -risks and self-efficacy. However, the emphasis on social trust about competence and integrity of the authorities varies with the types of projects. Self-efficacy worked as the “mirror of trust” reflecting people's attitude towards social trust in the authorities on their ability and morality.Originality/valueThe value of the paper lies in discussing social trust from multiple dimensions in the field of urban infrastructures, which provides new insights into specific mechanisms for shaping public acceptance in project management towards the development of UTIPs.

Advantages and Challenges of Applying BIM in Urban Technical Infrastructure Projects

In the current development in Vietnam, more and more new urban areas are planned to serve and develop socioeconomic development. However, the establishment of an overall system of planning, construction, management, and development for urban development is still facing many difficulties. Especially the use of “2D drawings” in urban design, management, and operation, which will cause limitations in optimal urban planning. The application of Building Information Model (BIM) technology in urban planning, management, and operation is the current integration trend that is in line with the national digital transformation plan in the 4.0 revolution. Hence, the application of BIM also faces certain challenges and difficulties. This study analyzes the basis and legal framework for applying BIM while considering the technical infrastructure projects using BIM, thereby assessing the advantages, disadvantages, challenges, and solutions, and assessing the suitability for the application of BIM in infrastructure projects in Vietnam.

Analytical and psychological aspects of work safety in urban transport infrastructure projects

The work investigated and analyzed the relationship between the psychology of occupational safety and industrial injuries, and the reasons that cause injuries at workplaces in the structural subdivisions of the metro were given. Proposed measures to improve the occupational health and safety management system at metro companies.

A review on the success factors of crowdfunding-based to finance small-scale infrastructure projects

Public-Private Partnership (PPP) schemes in delivering economic and social infrastructure are growing in developing countries worldwide. Various developing countries, including Indonesia, has also been preparing and developing numerous projects, ranging from larger-scale economic infrastructures that include toll roads to multifunction satellites and smaller-scale social infrastructures that include water supply, solid-waste management, and regional hospital projects. With the increasing numbers of smaller infrastructure projects proposed by the local government, attracting financers to invest in these projects is still a challenge the government faces. Financial institutions are still averse to making the appraisal and due diligence to such projects, owing to the nature of little historical evidence of private finance involvement in small-scale infrastructure finance. In some western countries, citizens have taken the initiative to forward and finance their local infrastructure development due to realizing the social, economic, and environmental benefits of civic projects for the local community. Theoretical research has shown the opportunity of utilizing crowdfunding for local urban infrastructure; however, the factors contributing to benefit from this finance method are yet to be identified. This paper seeks to answer questions on what success factors contribute to the opportunity to adapt the crowdfunding scheme to finance a smaller-scale urban infrastructure project by conducting qualitative literature review.

Benefit-Cost Analysis of Green Infrastructure Investments: Application to Small Urban Projects in Hinesville, GA

Small scale urban green infrastructure projects can provide local ecological services that should be accounted for in project assessment. Benefits assessment can be expensive and time consuming; benefit transfer provides an economical alternative, but the quality of the analysis depends upon available data. A best-case scenario for many applications of benefit transfer is to utilize a conforming meta-analysis. In this paper, we use the meta-analysis of Bockarjova, et al. (2020) to predict ecological benefits of small scale urban green infrastructure investments in Hinesville, GA. In doing so, we implement a censoring procedure on the benefit transfer function to permit analysis of small-scale (less than one-hectare) projects. We find evidence of substantial net economic benefits, with estimates ranging from $738,312 to over $5.5 million; positive benefit-to-cost ratios are robust to substantial cost increases (4 times the estimated costs). We provide guidance for how to apply these methods to other contexts.

Most Relevant Sustainability Criteria for Urban Infrastructure Projects—AHP Analysis for the Gulf States

Infrastructure projects require lifecycle-based assessment, considering the interests of multiple stakeholders concerning the three pillars of sustainability. There has been a heightened curiosity in employing sustainability indicators for gauging the impacts of developmental projects. Even though the literature is abundant on sustainability assessment methods, there is no proper one for the assessment of urban infrastructure projects in the context of Gulf states. Thus, our research intends to fill in this research gap and recommend an incorporated, hierarchically coordinated approach of sustainability indicators to be employed for the sustainability assessment of urban infrastructure development projects. This aim is achieved through a questionnaire survey, by identifying the sustainability indicators related to the infrastructure projects for the cities, in the context of Gulf states. The survey uses the criteria; “Important”, “Practicality”, “Reliability”, and “Relevance” to assess those indicators. Based on expert opinions, the weights of the indicators are approximated through the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) method. Thus, the study proposes an innovative hierarchically defined structure of sustainability indicators fitting for the Gulf context. Further, it informs urban planners and policymakers, particularly in the Gulf states, about the shift in the direction of sustainability of urban infrastructure systems.

PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS IN THE FIELD OF THE “GREEN” ECONOMY OF THE MEGAPOLIS

The purpose of the research is to analyze the concept of public-private partnership and the practice of its implementation in the field of «green» economy to achieve sustainable development of the city.Methodology – the study is based on scientific papers on the topic of public-private partnership, collected from the international databases Scopus, Web of Science for the period from 2008 to 2021. The main research methods include historical and logical methods, observation, analysis and synthesis.Originality / value – the authors present the most common models of public-private partnership in different countries of the world, describe the development of the concept of public-private partnership in Kazakhstan, including the field of "green" economy.Findings. The results of the study demonstrate the growing role of the private sector in the implementation of public-private partnerships to achieve the city's sustainable development goals. The mechanism of publicprivate partnership makes it possible to improve the quality and efficiency of services traditionally provided by the state, while reducing the financial burden on the state budget. The most successful models are publicprivate partnerships in the implementation of urban infrastructure projects based on «green» technologies and «green» financing. However, the number of «green» public-private partnership projects is significantly less than in other sectors of the economy. Currently, conditions have been formed in Kazakhstan for the implementation of the concept of public private partnership, however, in the field of green economy, this concept is not yet fully implemented. The main reason is the low profitability of projects, in this regard, it is necessary to provide in the legislation incentive measures for the development of public-private partnership by simplifying the procedures for concluding contracts, providing tax benefits, subsidies and revising the rates of fees for the provision of services.

British Columbia’s Community Benefits Agreement: Economic Justice for Indigenous Workers in Relation to Union Politics in Urban Infrastructure Projects

British Columbia’s Community Benefits Agreement that aims to provide jobs in the construction trades for underrepresented groups serves as a case to explore the successes and barriers to distributing the benefits of urban development to Indigenous groups towards the goal of economic justice. Through a content analysis of stakeholder interviews and documents about the agreement, we found that, while there is optimism that the CBA may help advance public discourse on economic justice for Indigenous Peoples, there are significant barriers that have gone unaddressed in this and other labor agreements due to a lack of community engagement. These include lack of transportation, continued marginalization of Indigenous workers into unskilled labor, and the reinforcement of dependence on non-Indigenous economies.

Urban heat transition and geosystem service provision: A trade-off? A study on subsurface space scarcity in the city of Amsterdam

The subsurface is a crucial dimension of cities’ landscapes, and its qualities and structures have direct repercussions on the urban environment above surface. However, systematic accounts of its characteristics in urban planning processes are virtually absent, rendering it an underappreciated asset because it is overlooked. When integrated in urban planning, the consideration of subsurface functions and space scarcity can improve and optimize infrastructure management and urban development. Sustainable urban development must include the subsurface as a space, and needs to account for the exploiting, preservation and occupation of that natural environment. The geosystem services approach allows for the evaluation of competing or even conflicting uses, to determine the implications for human wellbeing and sustainability.This paper looks at the implementation of heat-distribution networks in the city of Amsterdam as part of their heat-transition plan. This plan contains an order of implementation in different neighbourhoods without looking further into detail in the subsurface consequences. The present research intends to address this knowledge gap by applying an indicator for the measurement of underground space scarcity. An analysis is performed using GIS-data and detailed data from the Dutch cadastre database on the existing urban underground infrastructure to determine an infrastructure density (Urban Underground Infrastructure Density) indicator with the assumption that this may support further prioritization to determine the order of implementation. Showing the thermal interaction between heat distribution and drinking water supply pipelines furthermore points to the subsurface heat balance as an important geosystem service to be accounted for in the onset heat-transition. Finally, a quantitative analysis investigates the relationships between this indicator and other relevant socio-demographic and geo-spatial factors. This represents an important attempt to analyse the role of the subsurface in strategic masterplans and in the planning of large urban infrastructure projects. The study reports methodological findings, highlighting the opportunities and challenges of integrating subsurface needs into urban planning, and the necessity of interdisciplinary approaches.

Arena-Anchored Urban Development Projects and the Visitor Economy.

Cities of all sizes are actively engaged in developing various urban infrastructure projects. A common strategy used in larger North American cities is employing arena-anchored urban development projects, where a professional sports team is used as an anchor tenant of a sports facility to generate development in the city. One means of relocating economic activity is to increase visitation to the desired redevelopment area. In this paper we used the visitor economy as a lens to explore how arena-anchored projects and the professional sports teams that play there fit into a local city's tourism economy. To conduct this study, a multi case study design was used to draw data from two cities: Columbus, Ohio, and Detroit, Michigan. Interviews were goal directed and conducted in person with leaders in Columbus (n = 9) and Detroit (n = 10), and inductive and deductive approaches to coding were undertaken in the form of content analysis. The results indicate that growing the visitor economy through arena anchored urban development relies on planned placemaking via the strategic approach of bundling diverse amenities together. These findings provide valuable feedback to those cities considering arena development projects, and how the arenas may be combined with other civic amenities to undergird the local visitor economy.